Tuesday, February 28, 2012

I'm not much of a Ron Wilson fan. He may not be the biggest reason that the Leafs are looking at another year without the playoffs, but I haven't seen anything from him to suggest he's got what it takes to finally get the Leafs over the 90 point barrier, never mind into the playoffs.

In short, he may not be the problem but I don't think he's the solution either.

If the Leafs don't make the playoffs this year - and a quick glance at their schedule suggests that's exactly what will happen - and if Ron Wilson isn't fired, he will join some pretty select company.

Ron Wilson will be one of just four NHL coaches in the history of the NHL who have kept their job after four consecutive seasons without a playoffs appearance. Wilson will see his name, um - immortalized?, alongside Barry Trotz, Wayne Gretzky and Frank Boucher. I hope not, but all signs point to at least one more year of a bad PK, strange personnel decisions, and Wilson's patented arms folded, closed mouth time outs.

Team

Seasons

Coach

Nashville Predators

1998-03

Barry Trotz

New York Rangers

1942-47

Frank Boucher

Toronto Maple Leafs

2008-2012

Ron Wilson

Phoenix Coyotes

2005-09

Wayne Gretzky

Wilson being in such select company (just shoot me) inspired me to look at how the Leafs' awful post-season drought compares with other NHL teams. I also thought it would be interesting to see how many franchises have never gone four years without a post-season appearance, never mind four years of no playoffs without firing their coach.

NHL Teams' Longest Post-Season Drought

Team

Seasons

Streak

Florida Panthers**

2000-2011

10 seasons

New Jersey Devils

1978-87

9 seasons

Boston Bruins

1959-67

8 seasons

Washington Capitals*

1974-82

8 seasons

New York Rangers

1997-2004

7 seasons

New York Islanders

1994-2001

7 seasons

Columbus Blue Jackets*

2000-2008

7 seasons

Detroit Red Wings

1970-77

7 seasons

Calgary Flames

1996-2003

7 seasons

Pittsburgh Penguins

1982-88

6 seasons

Carolina Hurricanes

1992-98

6 seasons

Tampa Bay

1996-2002

6 seasons

Winnipeg/Atlanta*

1999-2006

6 seasons

Chicago Black Hawks

1946-52

6 seasons

Edmonton Oilers**

2005-11

6 seasons 5 seasons

Los Angeles Kings

2002-09

6 seasons

Phoenix/ Winnipeg

2002-09

6 seasons

Philadelphia Flyers

1989-94

5 seasons

Toronto Maple Leafs**

2005-11

5 seasons6 seasons

Nashville Predators*

1998-2003

5 seasons

Colorado/ Quebec

1987-92

5 seasons

Ottawa Senators*

1992-96

4 seasons

Vancouver Canucks

1970-74*/1996-00

4 seasons

Buffalo Sabres

2001-04

3 seasons

Montreal Canadiens

1919-22/ 1998-01

3 seasons

St. Louis Blues

2005-08

3 seasons

Minnesota Wild**

2008-11

3 seasons

Anaheim Ducks

1993-96*/ 1999-02

3 seasons

Dallas/ Minnesota

1973-76/2008-11**

3 seasons

San Jose Sharks

1991-93*/ 1995-97

2 seasons

*expansion team, streak began with first season in the league

**current streak, if they miss the playoffs this season, add 1 more to their total